19: Parenting Through Teen Puberty in a Post-Pandemic World…in the Second Half of Life
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Show Notes
Join me, Dr. Sarah Milken, in an open and honest conversation with teenage and puberty expert Vanessa Kroll Bennett. We discuss parenting strategies to help our teens re-enter the real world from the pandemic, in the midst of bodily and psychological roller coasters. And, we chat about facing those awkward conversations with our teens regarding sex, puberty, periods, porn, and masturbation. Vanessa is a mom of 4, author of the Uncertain Parenting Newsletter, and Founder and owner of Dynamo Girl. She discusses how she is able to have open conversations about puberty with her kids and starting her business from the ground up. We also talk about how her workshops have not only helped teens and their parents become more comfortable in their bodies, but also have given Vanessa a new career path in her second half of life.
We are going to dig deep into the details of Vanessa Kroll Bennett’s journey into her second half of life. We talk about the best approach to talking to your teen about sex and the changes they are starting to see. Vanessa talks about how to “re-do” parenting mistakes and teaches us some mindfulness tips to use before reacting to our teens’ comments or behaviors. This conversation is insightful, practical, and hands down so funny… She and I share personal stories and examples from our own puberty years.
Some highlights:
Living in a household where it was normal to openly talk about puberty & sex vs. having a house where it is more awkward
Workshops for teens, tweens, and parents/teaching kids about consent, anatomy, friendships, and hard feelings
Vanessa talks to her 11-year-old son about porn
The important takeaway Vanessa learned when she and her 17-year-old son visited a college...parenting “do-overs”
Teaching kids mindfulness / creating a worry box
Her journey creating her business, Dynamo Girl
Golden Nuggets from the episode:
Everyone has different comfort levels & having those awkward conversations don’t always need to be face-to-face
Working out your talking muscle
The pandemic has made kids feel safe being at home and going through puberty...being back at school brings new anxieties
The importance of repeating “the talks” over time
Modeling for our kids that it’s okay to make mistakes
It’s okay to not be okay
For the real conversation and all the details, please tune into our three-part podcast.
Full transcript linked here.
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Vanessa Kroll Bennett Bio:
Vanessa Kroll Bennett is the author of the Uncertain Parenting Newsletter, mom of 4, and Founder and owner of Dynamo Girl. Her company is focused on building self-esteem through sports, puberty education, workshops for tweens, teens, and parents, and advises corporations, sports leagues, camps, and non-profit organizations on how to authentically engage children in their communities. She is one of the most sought-after speakers in puberty for boys and girls.
Finding Vanessa Kroll Bennett:
Vanessa’s Faves:
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